Featured Research

from universities, journals, and other organizations

BRCA1 gene mutation associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Date:

September 6, 2011

Source:

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Summary:

Nearly half of breast cancer patients carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation experience a complete pathological response (pCR) -- the disappearance of all evidence of disease from the breast tissue and lymph nodes -- regardless of disease stage after standard neoadjuvent chemotherapy, according to new research.

Share This

Nearly half of breast cancer patients carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation experience a complete pathological response (pCR) -- the disappearance of all evidence of disease from the breast tissue and lymph nodes -- regardless of disease stage after standard neoadjuvent chemotherapy, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Related Articles

The study, published online in The Journal of Clinical Oncology on September 6, is the largest study to date to find that the pCR rate is significantly higher in BRCA1 carriers (46 percent) than in women carrying the BRCA2 mutation (13 percent) and non-carriers (22 percent). Among all the women, researchers did not find a statistical difference in overall survival rates, but noted that BRCA1 carriers who achieved a pCR had better five-year, relapse-free survival and overall survival rates.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 belong to a class of human genes known as tumor suppressors. The mutation is inherited and increases a woman's chance of developing breast cancer with more aggressive features by 80 percent. Researchers aimed to determine whether women with and without the mutations would respond differently to the same treatment.

"While hereditary breast cancers typically carry aggressive tumor features compared to sporadic breast cancers, we found that BRCA1-related tumors were as responsive and sensitive to anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy as were sporadic breast cancers," said Banu Arun, M.D., professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at MD Anderson and lead author of the study. "These findings may help physicians determine the best treatment method for this subset of women with unique genetic mutations."

For the study, researchers used MD Anderson's Breast Cancer Management System Database to identify 317 women at varying disease stages who received neoadjuvent chemotherapy and clinical genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 between 1997 and 2009. Fifty- seven women were BRCA1 carriers, 23 were BRCA2 mutation carriers and 237 were non-carriers. After chemotherapy, 61 patients received breast-conserving surgery, while 256 opted for mastectomy.

Median follow up time for the patients was 3.2 years, at which point 22 percent of patients experienced disease recurrence or death. There were no significant differences noted in survival outcomes with respect to BRCA status and type of neoadjuvent chemotherapy received.

According to Arun, there is no consensus on the most effective chemotherapy regimen for treating women who carry the BRCA mutation, due to a lack of prospective studies.

"This new insight tempts us to speculate that the presence of the BRCA1 mutation determines how some women will respond to neoadjuvent chemotherapy. However, we need future prospective studies with larger cohorts and longer-term follow up to validate these findings and determine optimum treatment," Arun noted.

More From ScienceDaily

More Health & Medicine News

Featured Research

Mar. 3, 2015 — Adults over the age of 30 only catch flu about twice a decade, a new study suggests. So, while it may feel like more, flu-like illness can be caused by many pathogens, making it difficult to assess ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — No significant change in home habits of smokers have been observed in the aftermath of a ban on smoking in public spaces, researchers report. Greater inspiration to kick the habit likely comes from ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Heart function has been associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease through a new study. Participants with decreased heart function, measured by cardiac index, were two to ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Children of recently separated or divorced families are likelier to drink sugar-sweetened beverages than children in families where the parents are married, putting them at higher risk for obesity ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Gastric bypass and similar stomach-shrinking surgeries are a popular option for obese patients looking to lose weight or treat type 2 diabetes. While the surgeries have been linked to a decreased ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Twice as many children born to mothers who took antibiotics during pregnancy were diagnosed with asthma by age 3 than children born to mothers who didn’t take prenatal antibiotics, a new study has ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Although sedatives are often administered before surgery, a randomized trial finds that among patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, receiving the sedative lorazepam before ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Pediatric otolaryngologists and surgeons are concerned with parents getting the wrong message regarding the safety/desirability of letting babies and young children eat peanuts to prevent them from ... full story

Featured Videos

Mom Triumphs Over Tragedy, Helps Other Families

AP (Mar. 3, 2015) — After her son, Dax, died from a rare form of leukemia, Julie Locke decided to give back to the doctors at St. Jude Children&apos;s Research Hospital who tried to save his life. She raised $1.6M to help other patients and their families. (March 3)
Video provided by AP

Looted and Leaking, South Sudan's Oil Wells Pose Health Risk

AFP (Mar. 3, 2015) — Thick black puddles and a looted, leaking ruin are all that remain of the Thar Jath oil treatment facility, once a crucial part of South Sudan&apos;s mainstay industry. Duration: 01:13
Video provided by AFP

Woman Convicted of Poisoning Son

AP (Mar. 3, 2015) — A woman who blogged for years about her son&apos;s constant health woes was convicted Monday of poisoning him to death by force-feeding heavy concentrations of sodium through his stomach tube. (March 3)
Video provided by AP

Related Stories

Feb. 2, 2015 — Which breast cancer patients need to have underarm lymph nodes removed? New research is narrowing it down: a study finds that not all women with lymph node-positive breast cancer treated with ... full story

Sep. 5, 2014 — A major American study could lead to improvements in outcomes for women with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that disproportionately affects younger ... full story

Dec. 13, 2013 — Adding the chemotherapy drug carboplatin and/or the antibody therapy bevacizumab to standard presurgery chemotherapy increased the number of women with triple-negative breast cancer who had no ... full story

Dec. 12, 2013 — Women with breast cancer characterized by high levels of the protein HER2 and hormone receptors gained much less benefit from presurgery treatment with chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapies if ... full story

Apr. 4, 2011 — Women with ovarian cancer who have the BRCA2 gene mutation are more likely to survive the malignancy than women with the BRCA1 mutation, or women without either mutation, according to new ... full story

ScienceDaily features breaking news and videos about the latest discoveries in health, technology, the environment, and more -- from major news services and leading universities, scientific journals, and research organizations.